The WISE Team
WISE PROFESSIONAL STAFF
WISE Program Officer
Victoria Alden calls on her experience in program development, STEM outreach, informal education, and evaluation methods to design, host, and refine our signature programming. She works with student groups to create impactful programs, other UM units to better serve the needs of women in STEM, and community partners to meet or mentor the leaders and best at Michigan. Reach out to Victoria if you want to collaborate with WISE for your programs and events or promote your events to our audience of women in STEM at U-M. If she doesn’t have an answer to your question about Women in Science and Engineering, she knows who will.
WISE Project & Event Manager
Rachel Barnes brings 8 years of event experience to the WISE team. She combines her skills in organizing meaningful projects/events with her passion for empowering students in higher education to further the mission of WISE: helping students succeed in STEM! Reach out to Rachel if you have questions about our events or ambassador program, would like to partner with us, or you have information you would like to share in our newsletter or via social media.
Annual Giving Officer Senior
Through fundraising roles in community-based nonprofits, healthcare and consulting, Karen brings broad development experience focused on donor-centered philanthropy to WISE. Prior to her role at WISE she served as a gift officer for Trinity Health and also held fundraising positions with Richner & Richner and the United Way of Washtenaw County. Karen earned her master’s degree in organizational development from Eastern Michigan University and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Valparaiso University. To learn more about how you can support the mission of WISE, please reach out.
Development & External Relations Director
Amy received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communication from Lake Forest College in 2009. Since then, she has worked in various positions, including Assistant Director of Special Events, at Northwestern University, and most recently as Senior Associate Director of Alumni Relations in Michigan Medicine’s Office of Development. Amy brings with her a wealth of experience in fundraising, both professionally and as a volunteer. If you are interested in learning more about ways to support WISE, please reach out to Amy.
WISE Faculty Director
Elena Gallo is committed to student success in her teaching, research and in WISE. As a faculty member in Astronomy, her scholarship includes studies of black holes. Reach out to Elena if you are interested in contributing to the success of WISE through partnership or donations.
WISE Senior Administrative Assistant
Ronotta Holliday has persistently pursued her education and supported other women. Early in her career, she directed a community center in a low-income neighborhood, mentoring girls to boost their self-esteem and academic achievements. Recognizing their struggles, Ronotta secured a city grant and partnered with the Women’s Center of America to launch an empowerment program. In 2009, she returned to school full-time, earning an Associate’s Degree from Washtenaw Community College, followed by a B.A. in psychology with a minor in marketing from UM-Dearborn. Now a mother of two, Ronotta has earned her master’s degree in marketing and remains committed to proving it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
WISE Managing Director
Rachel Niemer aims to make higher education more equitable and just. As managing director of Women in Science and Engineering at University of Michigan, Rachel collaboratively develops initiatives to support the academic and professional success of women and gender minorities in STEM programs on campus. Rachel would love to hear from you about your experiences in STEM!
WISE STUDENT STAFF
Nabiha Begum
WISE Mentor
My name is Nabiha Begum and I am a Sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering and planning to continue my education within Aerospace Engineering! A fun fact is that I am an avid artist and love all kinds of crafts, especially crocheting and painting. I’ve been involved in WISE since the beginning of my freshman year, starting out as an Ambassador. From my amazing experiences last year, I am beyond excited for the in person connections and meeting new individuals with also a passion in STEM 🙂
Sophie Cartwright
WISE Mentor
Hi! My name is Sophie Cartwright, I’m from Seattle, Washington and am currently a junior studying Industrial & Operations Engineering and Human Centered Artificial Intelligence. This is my second year as a peer mentor for WISE, and I’m looking forward to welcoming new members and creating connections with students across different majors. Outside of class, I serve as the treasurer for Michigan Electronic Music Collective, and am always searching for new music and genres. After graduating, I’m excited to pursue a career that allows me to learn and grow everyday.
Selay Erturk
WISE Mentor
I’m Selay, a senior studying Computer Science and Engineering. I have been involved with WISE since my freshman year (it was actually a goal of mine to join before even committing to UMich). This summer, I was a Product Management intern for IBM, and after graduation, I will be starting a full-time PM position with them! Also, some of my interests are house music, reading, fashion, F1, and coffee.
Savanna Evans
WISE Mentor
Hello!! My name is Savanna Evans. I am a current junior at the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor studying Robotics Engineering. I am from Detroit, Michigan. Outside of engineering, I enjoy modeling and experimenting with my own personal style. This will be my second year being involved with WISE. I am so excited to build new partnerships and connect with more women in STEM this year!!
Geena Gilbert
WISE Mentor
My name is Geena Gilbert, and I am currently a rising senior studying Industrial & Operations Engineering and minoring in User Experience Design. This is my second year as a peer mentor for WISE, and my favorite events to plan are WISE Nights In. My hobbies include working out, thrifting, and cooking! This summer, I interned at a Target Distribution Center as an Operations Management Intern. I love trying different types of coffee and exploring different career paths for my future
Morgan Gilboe
WISE Mentor
Morgan is a master’s student in the Bioinformatics Accelerated Master’s Degree program, where she is concurrently finishing her undergraduate degree in microbiology. She has also completed minors in Environment (through PitE) and Computing for Scientific Discovery. She is passionate about the intersection between science, sustainability and society, and is working towards a career in microbiome research.
Allison Grimsted
WISE Mentor
Allison is a third-year PhD student in Industrial and Operations Engineering, where she researches sequential optimization with applications in public health and public policy. Before starting her PhD, she spent three years as an Operations Research Analyst working in emergency response logistics for national health. She grew up in Evanston, IL, and enjoys outdoor rock climbing.
Maya Juratli
WISE Mentor
Hi!! I’m a pre-med senior in the environment program specializing in environmental health and toxicology. An an ambassador and then a mentor, I’ve been heavily involved in WISE since the first week of my freshman year. I’m passionate about reducing health disparities, improving health through upstream interventions, protecting the environment, and community-led innovation. I can talk about John Adams, anti-consumerism, and turquoise jewelry for hours (heed this warning). In my free time, I paint (watercolor/acrylic), read/review (history/goodreads), and take long walks (trees!).
Ayesha Ulde
WISE Mentor
Ayesha Ulde is a third-year Ph.D candidate in the department of Materials Science & Engineering. She completed her undergraduate and Master’s degree from IIT Madras in India, where she was the editor of her department’s newsletter. When she is not pursuing research, she is baking, reading or exploring restaurants in and around Ann Arbor.
Antigone Wilson
WISE Mentor
Antigone is a 4th-year Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry from Indiana, so she is a Midwestener through and through. She completed her B.S. in Chemistry at Valparaiso University before coming to Michigan for grad school. In the lab, Antigone works on RNA structure, but she is also passionate about mentorship, education, and equity & justice. In her free time, she enjoys taking care of her many (20+!) houseplants, arts & crafts, baking, and playing pickleball with her friends.
